Apparatus for malting grain



W. ANDREW.

APPARATUS FOR MALTING GRAIN.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 15,1881.

a g E a a E N. PETERS PhoIo-Lllhugmphzr. Waihinglun. DJ}.

j .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

WILLIAM ANDREW, or oINoINNArI, -1110.

APPARATUS'FOR MALl'lNG GRAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 249,570, dated November 15, 1881.

Application filed March 19,1881. (Nomodehl I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ANDREW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gineinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Making Grain, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of malting-floors for brewing and distilling purposes; and its object is to provide means for artificially cooling or warming the floor, and therebypreventin g the overheating or the too rapid germination of the grain during the process of malting. v

To this end my invention consists in apparatus for regulating the temperature of the melting-floor by means of currents of water or other cooling-liquids, or of air or both, drawn through suitable channels beneath the floor proper during the malting operation, and in the construction and arrangement of a series of channels beneath the floor, and of means for the proper admission ofwater, air, or both,for

absorbing the excess of heat.

Myinvention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical section of the floor, taken through one of the longitudinal channels. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, taken laterally across the longitudinal channels; and Fig. 3 is a pan view of the floor.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in both specification and drawings. Malting-floors areordinarily constructed of cement, or of brick or stone covered with and laid in cement, forming a solid compact mass for the malting operations.

In my invention the floor is channeled with connecting-chambers in any suitable manner, to permit the introduction of water or air for the purpose of regula-tin g the temperature of The drawings exhibit one form of my improvement, in which the floor A is hollowed beneath the surface into numerous parallel channels a, which may be constructed of tile, brick, or of any other suitable material. I prefer, however, to construct them inthe final layer of cement by spreading the cement over short molds or cores, which, by forming a small portion of the floor at a time, can he slipped along until the whole is completed in the long conchannels, when necessary. A single pipe, 0,

witha horizontal distributing-pipe laid in the channel, with orifices suitably arranged, may be used to distribute the water to the channels a. From the corresponding cross-channel B pipes b lead to a suitable exhauster, D, which may be a vertical flue or a fan-exhauster driven by power or an yother convenientmea-ns,

by which air may be drawn from the channels a, and thus a current established. It is also provided with an exit-pipe, G, for drawing off the water from the floor-channels,to aid which the mouth of the exit-pipe G is placed at a depression, b sunk in the bottom of the main channel B, to insurea complete drainage. An overflow-pipe, O, is also arranged in the channel B to take off any excess of water which may accumulate in the chambers. I prefer to use a number of overflow pipes or orifices dis-' tributed laterally along the channel B, in order to secure a uniform discharge throughout, and these may discharge into a common pipe or receptacle.

In operation, the surface water, which would naturally absorb the heat of the superjacent floor, would flow off by the overflow-pipes, and thus the cooling operation would be continuous by the use of water alone. It may also be desirable to place gate-valves at proper intervals across the channels B B, by which means a portion only of the floor may be used at will.

The disposition of the channels may be varied. Thus the channels a may be arranged as return channels, forming a continuous passage throughout; but the arrangement shown is preferred, as it is more economical in construction and more easily operated.

By giving a slight inclination of the channels from end to end the drainage may be facilitated.

IOO

. It will be readily understood that when the channels have been once flooded with water and a current of air caused to pass through by exhaustion at one end the temperature will be rapidly lowered by evaporation.

By my improvement a much heavier layer of grain may be manipulated at one time on the malt-floor during the warm season of the year, and all danger of overheating effectually prevented.

It will be readily understood that by the use of heated air or water, with the construction above described, the reverse result of that before obtained may be secured.

Having described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A maltin'g-floor consisting of a layer of cement formed with parallel channels in its substance beneath the surface, connected and arranged to permit the passage of air or water beneath the entire floor, substantially as specified.

2. The channeled malting-floor A, in combination with the air-openings b b, exhauster D, and water-pipes O O, and overflow-pipe O, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereofIhave hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM ANDREW.

Witnesses:

O. 1?. DooLIT'rLE, L. M. HosEA. 

